UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Specimen Preparation Technician
School/Department:
Nottingham Nanotechnology & Nanoscience Centre
Salary:
Salary will be within the range £22,029 - £26,274 per annum
Job Family and Level:
TS 3
Contract Status:
This post is available from 1st January 2016 (permanent)
Hours of Work:
36.25 hours
Location:
Nano Centre, Cripps South Building, University Park,
Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Reporting to:
Prof. Andrei Khlobystov
The Purpose of the Role:
The specimen preparation technician will be responsible for preparing specimens of different types
of materials for electron microscopy measurements, working closely with University of Nottingham
users of the Nano Centre and external clients. The technician is expected to possess relevant skills
and a good general scientific understanding, be able to adopt creative approaches to problem
solving and the development of appropriate specimen preparation techniques. The technician will
oversee the training of researchers, thus improving the volume and quality of specimens for
characterisation.
It is anticipated that a certain level of expert knowledge transfer and training may need to be
provided by staff associated with the Nano Centre to develop this role.
Main Responsibilities:
% time
per year
1.
Preparation of specimens of different materials for electron microscopy
characterisation including the following tasks:
 Working closely with users of the Nano Centre and the operators of
electron microscopes to understand and develop methods for specimen
preparation;
 Processing a wide range of materials (including metals, ceramics,
polymers, nanostructures etc.) to achieve high quality specimens
suitable for transmission electron microscopy and/or scanning electron
microscopy;
 Mounting specimens on electron microscope stage.
40%
2.
Training researchers on specimen preparation equipment including the
40%
following tasks:
 Hands-on training on cutting, grinding, etching and polishing
equipment;
 Hands-on training on sputtering and coating equipment;
 Training in specimen transfer techniques for sensitive materials.
3.
Maintenance and management of specimen preparation laboratory including
the following tasks:
 Ensuring specimen preparation equipment is in good working order;
 Repairing equipment and replacing spare parts, as required, with
assistance from the workshops;
 Managing usage of consumables for the specimen preparation
laboratory, ensuring re-ordering in a timely manner;
 Supervising safety in the specimen preparation laboratory, ensuring
safe usage of instrumentation and disposal of chemical waste in
accordance with the Health & Safety regulations.
4.
Monitoring and reporting the usage of specimen preparation equipment
including the following tasks:
 Maintaining a booking system for each instrument in the specimen
preparation laboratory;
 Monitoring financial expenditure associated with each instrument;
 Reporting the usage of the instrumentation to the Research & Business
Manager.
15%
5%
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications/
Education
Skills/Training
Experience
Essential
A-levels (or eqivalent) in Physics and
Chemistry.
Desirable
A scientific degree or higher
degree.
Experience of working in a research
laboratory.
The ability to prepare specimens
for electron microscopy (TEM and
SEM).
Practical skills in electron microscopy
sample preparation (specialised
training will be provided as required).
Safe laboratory practice.
Technical involvement in research
projects.
Well organised and self-motivated
with the ability to manage the
day-to-day running of a specimen
preparation laboratory, and carry
out appropriate activities within a
given time-scale.
Basic knowledge of analytical
techniques relevant to the
characterisation of nanomaterials
(e.g. TEM, SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS
etc.).
Experience in managing a
laboratory facility.
Statutory/Legal
Decision Making
i) taken independently by the role holder
Day to day decisions regarding best practice in the running of the specimen preparation
laboratory, interacting with users, managing access to shared instrumentation, and materials
transfer to the electron microscopy operators.
ii)
taken in collaboration with others
Decisions regarding the training of new users, of the purchase and upgrade of instrumentation.
iii)
referred to the appropriate line managers (Prof. Khlobystov) by the role holder
Decisions which impact upon laboratory safety (e.g. high risk experiments).
Additional Information
The Centre values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity.